Hierarchical closed-loop control system for aircraft, missiles and munitions
US8190305B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 2009 |
| Grant date | May 29, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B15/01
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a missile or aircraft with a hierarchical, modular, closed-loop flow control system and more particularly to aircraft or missile with a flow control system for enhanced aerodynamic control, maneuverability and stabilization. The present invention further relates to a method of operating the flow control system.Various embodiments of the flow control system of the present invention involve different elements including flow sensors, active flow control device or activatable flow effectors and logic devices with closed loop control architecture. The sensors of these various embodiments are used to estimate or determine flow conditions on the various surfaces of a missile or aircraft. The active flow control device or activatable flow effectors of these various embodiments create on-demand flow disturbances, preferably micro-disturbances, at different points along the various aerodynamic surfaces of the missile or aircraft to achieve a desired stabilization or maneuverability effect. The logic devices are embedded with a hierarchical control structure allowing for rapid, real-time control at the flow surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.